By Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo
The Wa Cluster Manager of World Vision Ghana (WVG), Sergious Before, has underscored the importance of collective action to eradicate child hunger and malnutrition in our localities. “We must work together to end child hunger and malnutrition in our communities,” he stressed, highlighting that investing in children’s nutrition is essentially a societal investment for the future.
Mr. Before emphasized that all interested parties must make it a priority to eliminate child hunger and malnutrition. He made the call during the Wa Cluster launch of the Enough Campaign at Wechiau in the Wa West District of the Upper West Region. The Wa Cluster is made up of the Wa West and Wa East Area Programmes of WVG.
The Enough Campaign is aimed at addressing widespread child hunger and malnutrition in the Wa West and Wa East Districts, which are hosting the initiative. Mr. Before indicated that “the campaign seeks to complement the efforts of the Wa West and Wa East District Assemblies in the fight to end child hunger and malnutrition.”
Giving an insight into the initiative, the Wa Cluster Manager told the gathering that last year, WVG launched the “ENOUGH” campaign in an effort to address what he termed “this huge national and global challenge of child hunger and malnutrition.”
Mr. Before specified that the Enough Campaign is aimed at achieving two objectives. The first focuses on children being visible and heard in hunger, nutrition, and food security-related policies at all levels. The second objective is to ensure that more children enjoy better food security, nutrition, and resilience through prioritised services.
The DCE for Wa West, Richard Wulo, said: “The effects of malnutrition on our children’s health, cognitive development, and future prospects are of paramount concern to us. It is true that some children in our beloved district(s) suffer from stunted growth and anemia due to inadequate nutrition. This does not only affect their health, but also hampers their ability to learn and thrive.”
“I therefore see the Enough Campaign as a call to action for all of us. We must work together to ensure that every child in our district(s) has access to nutritious food, quality healthcare, and opportunities for growth,” he stressed.
The DCE observed, “the Wa West District Assembly is committed to supporting this campaign and will effectively collaborate with World Vision to improve access to nutritious food for vulnerable children and their families.”
Mr. Wulo added that the government is committed to providing one hot meal to Kindergarten (KG) and Primary School children daily through the School Feeding Programme to boost the nutritional needs of the pupils. However, he said, “in Wa West, we have 28 KGs and Primary Schools that are not benefitting from the School Feeding Programme. We are taking the necessary steps to ensure they are brought on board.”
The DCE for Wa West said they will also collaborate with WVG to promote nutrition education by sensitizing families and communities on healthy nutrition practices and the importance of proper feeding for children.
The DCE for Wa East, Adamu Shaibu, pointed out that “the ENOUGH Campaign is not just a campaign, but a collective promise to amplify the voices of children and champion their rights to nourishing food and a better future.”
Mr. Shaibu commended WVG for its commitment to the cause of working with communities to overcome poverty and injustice. He continued that WVG’s dedication is exemplified by the recent refresher training of the Wa East District Child Protection Committee, formation of community-based child protection committees, and sensitization on gender-based violence and other related child protection issues in nine (9) communities, empowering women’s groups, among others.
Mr. Shaibu said the initiatives underscore the shared responsibility to protect and nurture our children. Commenting further, the DCE for Wa East noted that World Vision’s bold initiative aimed at eradicating child hunger and malnutrition “resonates deeply within our hearts and communities.”
“The core message is clear: We have ENOUGH to ensure that no child goes hungry,” Mr. Shaibu emphasized.
The Coordinator of the Enough Campaign at WVG, Ms. Barbara Asare, stated that food should be sufficient, safe, and nutritious. She added that the campaign is addressing three issues: food insecurity, malnutrition, as well as sanitation and hygiene.
Ms. Asare urged the government of Ghana and all relevant stakeholders to enact and enforce existing and new policies, as well as strengthen investments to eradicate child hunger and malnutrition. She observed that WVG, through the initiative, wants to influence four policies at the national level—in health and nutrition, food security, climate-smart agriculture, and social protection.
The Coordinator of the Enough Campaign said the thrust of the action is to reach out to 12.5 million children through improved services and policy implementation; to reach 1.3 million children directly with good nutritious food at the household and school levels; and also reduce the proportion of households in WVG programmes who are not food secure, among other goals.
Students of Wechiau Roman Catholic (R/C) Junior High School performed a play on the significance of nutrition.
The Paramount Chief of Wechiau, Naa Imoro Nandom Gomah, graced the occasion. Some attendees signed a pledge committing themselves to end child hunger and malnutrition.
